Liquid meter



\ Aug. 23, 1938.

F. HO RTON LI QUID METER Filed Sept. 8, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll Z0 F.HORTON LIQUID METER a Sheets-$heei 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1936 Aug. 23, 1938.F HORTON 2,127,773

LIQUID METER Filed Sept. 8, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 delivery spaceswhereby the mechanism is unaffected by the nature of the liquid beingmetered,

Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT caries LIQUID rrn'rna FrankHorton, London, England, assignor to Foreign Rights (Precision Meters)Limited,

London, England Application September 8, 1936, Serial No. 99,845 InGreat Britain December 27, 193 5 8 Claims. (c1. 73-244) meter adaptedprimarily to measure very thick 7 oils or semi-solid oils such as gearcase oils, a

versal application in the metering of liquids is of particular advantagewhen dealing with very thick substances such as gear case oils or othervery viscous liquids.

A further object is to provide an improved and simplified design ofmeter which may be readily taken apart, for cleaning and reassembledwithout altering the calibration, whereby the meter is particularlyadaptable to the conditions imposed, for example in connection with themeasuring of milk or other liquid foodstuffs.

The invention consists in'a liquid meter com prising a series ofcylinders arranged about a central axis, the axes of the cylinders beingparallel to the central axis, the pistons being coupled together by aswash -plate device, each piston functioning as a valve forvan adjacentcylinder.

The cylinders preferably enclose a central space in which the swashplate device is located.

According to a further feature, the space occupied by the swash plate orspider coupling the pistons together is isolated from the pressure andand the necessity of glands tor the indicating spindle or other partsisavoided.

Further features of invention will be hereinafter described and definedin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a cross sectional elevation of a meter according to the intention, the section being taken through one of the cylinders and theinlet.

Figure 2 is a similar cross section of the cylinder block and covers thesection being taken on the lines 2--2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a plan of the cylinder block with the cover plate removed.

Figure 4 is a view of the inner face 01' the upper cover plate.

Figure 5 is a view of the inner face of the lower cover plate.

Figure 6 is a plan ofa piston.

Figure '1 is a diagram showing the operation of the meter.

Flguresa, a-io are detail views of parts of the meter shown in Figure 1and incorporating certain modifications.

In carrying the invention into efiect accordin to one convenient mode inthe construction oi! a cylinder block is provided in which there arefour cylinders, III, II, l2, ll arranged in a circle about a centralchamber I l, the axes of the cylinders being parallel and equally spacedat 90 from one another. The cylinder bores extend completely through theblock which for convenienceof construction is formed in parts upper andlower parts i5 and I6 divided by a plane at right-angles to the axes ofthe cylinders.

The central chamber [4 which is enlarged adjacent the division planeaccommodates a swash plate device "or spider 1 element which has fourradial arms I 8 extending through slots IS in the inner walls of thecylinders whereby they are connected to pistons 20 located in thecylinders.

The swash plate or spider is mounted .upon a ball 2| carried by a post22 located on the central axis. The post is'screwed into a central boss23 formed by a sleeve which is driven into an aperture in the lower partIt of the cylinder block.

The swash plate is provided with a downwardly extending ring or annulus24 which is adapted to have a rolling 'contact with a coned seatingsurface 25 formed on the boss 23. By adjusting the screwed'post theinclination of the swash plate may bevaried and the stroke of thepistons altered whereby calibration of the meter may be i made.

The arms I8 of the swash plate or spider are provided with ball ends 26which engage in appropriate lateral recesses 21 in the-pistons 20.

The cylinder block has lower and upper end plates 28 and 29 screwedthereto to form appropriate passages for the liquid to be measured.Passages 30 in, the upper part I! of the cylinder block are connected tocentral space 3| which communicates with a common inlet 32 while re.-cesses 33 in the lower part are connected to a common outlet 24 of whichtwo are provided, the

one not being used being closed by a suitable plug. The passages 30communicate with ports 35 opening into the cylinders while the lowerends of the cylinders are connected tothe outlet 24.

The lower block It is provided with transverse'walls 3G dividing thepressure from the delivery passages. The lower ends of the cylinders andthus -the lower faces of the pistons are always open to the dischargeside of the meter.

The upper end of each cylinderis connected by a curved passage 31 formedpartly in the upper block and in the cover plate 28, to a port 38 in thewall of the preceding cylinder by passages 39 extending parallel to theaxes of the cylinders.-

The ports 38 lie opposite to the ports 3!. Communication between theports 35 and 38 of each cylinder is controlled by the piston ll 01 suchcylinder which is provided with a transverse passage ll. When thepassage 40 of a piston uncovers its ports 38 and Il liquid flows fromthe central space 3| through the appropriate passage ll, port 85, pistonpassage 40, port 38, passage II and curved passage 31 to the upper endof the next cylinder. Such action occurs when each piston is at thelower end of its stroke.

The pistons are also provided with side ports ll spaced from thepassages 40, and opening into the lower open end of the pistons whichcommunicate with the discharge side of the meter.

When a piston is at the upper end of its stroke -its side port 4| isadapted to register with the port ll of its cylinder whereby the upperend of the succeeding cylinder is open to discharge through the curvedpassage 31, passage 39, port 38 and side port ll of the previous piston.

Thus it will be appreciated that each piston in turn acts as a valvefirst to control the flow into the upper end of the succeeding cylinderand afterwards to control the discharge therefrom.

Considering all four cylinders as shown diagrammatically in Figure '7and assuming that No.

1 piston is at the lower end oi its stroke and is admitting liquid tothe top end oi No. 2 cylinder, No. 2 piston will be travelling downwardto a position to act as an inlet valve controlling the flow of liquidinto the space above piston 3, and at the same time liquid will beentering the upper end 01 cylinder No. 2.

Piston No. 3 will be at the upper end of its stroke and about to traveldownwardly receiving liquid above its piston. No. 4 piston will benearly at the upper end of its stroke and travelling upwardly deliveringliquid through piston 3 to the discharge side of the meter.

The swash plate device I! is provided with an upstanding pin 42 engaginga lateral slot in the head of a spindle H for a counting or registeringdevice 45 of any convenient form. The spindle I is mounted in a sleeve46 extending through the upper cover plate 28 and screwed into the upperblock i5. By reason of the inner chamber I 4 being isolated from theliquid being measured as the slots I! through which the arms of theswash plate device are always covered by the pistons it will beappreciated that the spindle M will not require a gland or stufling box.

The indicating or registering mechanism 45 is mounted upon the outerface of the covering plate 2., a suitable cover or casing 41 beingprovided.

The outer end of the screwed post or support 22 for the swash plate orspider l1 extends into a central aperture ll in the lower cover 2! andis provided with a squared end for adjustment purposes. A lock nut ll isprovided for locking the spindle in its adjusted podtion. A cover plate80 is provided for the aperture in the lower cover plate. By adjustingthe screwed spindle or post 22 the stroke of the pistons may be variedand the meter calibrated. No packings are required for the post 21 asthe chamber M is isolated from the liquid being measured. r

The upper and lower parts I! and I! of the cylinder block (when theswash plate I! and pistons II have been assembled) are bolted togetheror otherwise fixed, and do not require-separating except for repair itsuch be required, but the upper and lower cover plates and 28 are fixedin position so that they may be readily removed when it is required toclean the meter, for example when it is used for measuring milk, and itwill be found that the only parts requiring cleaning may be reached withease when the covers 10 and II are taken ofl, without it being necessaryto interfere with the pistons or the swash plate so that whenreassembled the meter will not require recalibration, provided oi coursethat the screwed post 22 and lock nut 49 have not been tampered with.

By reason of the isolation of the swash plate I! and transmission 42, I,44 to the indicatin means from the liquid spaces of the meter and theabsence of complicated valve mechanism, the meter will be foundparticularly useful in metering very heavy oils having a high viscosity.At the same time it will be obvious that the inner chamber it may be incommunication with either the pressure or delivery side if it ispreferred to immerse the mechanism in the medium being measured providedthe viscosity of such would not aiIect the operation of the meter. Thusthe inner chamber it may communicate with the pressure side throughapertures lll, Figure 8. Alternatively the inner chamber It maycommunicate with thedischarge side through apertures 6| in Figure 9. Insuch a case however, glands would be necessary in connection with thecalibration adjustment means and registering spindle.

It may be found that after the meter has been in use for a considerableperiod liquid may collect in the chamber l4 owing to seepage,particularly when metering thin liquids. Such seepage liquid may bedrained away from the chamber by the provision of apertures in thecylinder block'and end caps, such apertures being indicated at 62,Figure 10. A draining pipe 84 Figure 10 may be provided in the apertures62.

While four cylinders have been referred to in the particular descriptionabove it will be appreciated that three or more than four cylinders maybe provided.

Where it is desired to meter large quantities in a relatively shorttime, the diameter and stroke-of the pistons may be increased and/or agreater-number of cylinders may be provided.

I claim:

1. A liquid "meter operated by the pressure of the liquid, comprising aseries of cylinders arranged about a central axis, pistons reciprocablein said cylinders, a swash plate device having nutatory motionoperatively coupling the pistons together, each piston functioning as avalve for controlling the flow of liquid into and from the succeedingcylinder and means for adjusting the length of the stroke of the pistonsto calibrate the meter.

2. A liquid meter operated by the pressure of the liquid, comprising aseries of cylinders arranged about a central axis. the axes of thecylinders being parallel to said central axis, pistons reciprocable insaid cylinders, a swash plate device havingv a nutatory motionoperatlvely coupling the pistons together and located in the spaceenclosed by the cylinders, each piston functioning as a valve forcontrolling the flow of liquid into and from the succeeding cylinder andmeans for adjusting the length of the stroke of the pistons to calibratethe meter.

3. A liquid meter operated by the. pressure of the liquid, comprising acylinder block having a plurality of cylinder bores arranged about acentral axis, said bores beingparallel to said axis, a central chamberlocated between thecylinder bores, pistons reciprocable in the cylinderbores, each piston functioning as a valve for the succeeding cylinder,1:. swash plate device located in said central chamber and operativelycoupling the pistons together, a pressure chamber in the upper part ofthe block above the swash plate device and adapted to be connected inturn with the upper end of each cylinder bore under the control of thepiston in; the preceding cylinder bore, and a common'discharge chamberin the lower part of the block below the swash plate device towhichliquid from the upper end of each cylinder, bore is delivered inturn under control of the preceding piston.

4. A liquid meter as claimed in claim 3 wherein the central chamberis-isolated from the pressure and discharge chambers.

5.,A liquid meter operated by the pressure of the liquid, comprising aseries of cylinders arranged about a central axis, pistons reciprocablein said cylinders, a swash plate device having a nutatcry motionoperatively coupling the pistons together, each piston having atransverse groove toward one end which controls the inlet of liquid intothe succeeding cylinder, and a lateral port opening into an axial boreat its opposite end, said port controlling the discharge of liquid fromsaid cylinder.

6. A liquid meter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the central chamber isin communication with the pressure side of the meter.

7. A liquid meter as claimed in claim 3 wherein the central chamber isin communication with the discharge side of the meter.

8. A liquid meter as claimed in claim 3 wherein the central chamber isisolated from the pressure and discharge chambers of the meter andwherein a draining conduit connects the central chamber with theexterior of the meter.

FRANK HORTON.

